Method for photographing and reading an image, and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for reading an image executes operations including receiving a plurality of images for a same subject from a photographing device, obtaining a screen division value related to the plurality of images, checking focused sections of the plurality of images based on the obtained screen division value, and determining type of the plurality of images based on a result of checking the focused sections. According to the apparatus, it can be determined whether an image is actually photographed without a separate ToF module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/078,400, filed Oct. 23, 2020, which claimspriority to Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2020-0066714 filed on Jun.2, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to a method for photographing and reading animage, and an apparatus therefor. In more detail, it relates to a methodfor photographing and reading an image capable of reading whether asubject is a realistic image or a processed image, and an apparatustherefor.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is a ToF (Time-of-Flight) technology that uses a difference inreflection time of light rays as a photographing means for obtaining3-dimensional distance information of a subject. The ToF technologycalculates distance information from the subject by illuminating a laseror infrared light on a subject and calculating the time difference, inwhich the reflected light is received. The ToF technology is widely usedfor collecting real-time depth information of moving objects such as 3Dobject recognition technology since it can obtain depth information(i.e., distance information between the camera and the subject) in unitsof image pixels of a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) camera. Recently, it isalso widely used to read whether an image of photographing a subject isa realistic image or a re-photographed image of another image.

For example, if the depth information contained in each pixel of thephotographed image is different for each pixel and shows the overallthree-dimensional depth information, the image must be a realistic imageof photographing the actual subject, but if the depth information ofeach pixel is the same or changes flat, the image is likely to be aprocessed image of re-photographing an existing photo or video.According to this method, it is easy to determine whether or not aphotographed image is a realistic image, so it can be widely used invarious cases where it is important to determine whether the image isauthentic such as on-site image verification for insurance payment, theauthenticity determination of the image submitted as evidence in court,or verification of broadcaster press releases.

However, there is a problem that an expensive ToF module must beseparately installed in the camera in order to apply the ToF technology,and it is difficult to utilize due to a large measurement error in anoutdoor environment with interference from other light rays.

Accordingly, there is a need for a new method of technology that cancheck whether it is a realistic image, and does not require a separateToF module and can be applied even in an outdoor environment.

SUMMARY

The technical problem to be solved through some embodiments of thedisclosure is to provide an image photographing and reading methodcapable of reading whether the photographed image is a realistic imageof photographing an actual object or a processed image ofre-photographing an existing photograph and image, and an apparatustherefor.

Another technical problem to be solved through some embodiments of thedisclosure is to provide an image photographing and reading method,capable of reading whether an image is actually photographed withouthaving a separate ToF module, and an apparatus therefor.

Another technical problem to be solved through some embodiments of thedisclosure is to provide an image photographing and reading methodcapable of reading whether an image is actually photographed, which isapplicable to an outdoor environment, and an apparatus therefor.

The technical problems of the disclosure are not limited to thetechnical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems thatare not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the artfrom the following description.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for photographingan image is performed by a computer device, the method includesobtaining a screen division value for photographing an image,classifying a photographing screen into a plurality of sections based onthe screen division value, photographing a first image by focusing afirst section among the plurality of sections, photographing a secondimage by focusing a second section among the plurality of sections, andtransmitting the first image and the second image to a server.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for photographingan image is performed by a computer device, the method includesobtaining a screen division value for photographing an image,classifying a photographing screen into a plurality of sections based onthe screen division value, photographing a first image by focusing afirst section among the plurality of sections, and transmitting thefirst image to a server, wherein the server checks a focused section ofthe first image to determine a type of the first image.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus forphotographing an image includes a processor, a memory for loading acomputer program executed by the processor, and a storage for storingthe computer program, wherein the computer program includes instructionsfor executing operations including obtaining a screen division value forphotographing an image, classifying a photographing screen into aplurality of sections based on the screen division value, photographinga first image by focusing a first section among the plurality ofsections, photographing a second image by focusing a second sectionamong the plurality of sections, and transmitting the first image andthe second image to a server.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus forphotographing an image includes a processor, a memory for loading acomputer program executed by the processor, and a storage for storingthe computer program, wherein the computer program includes instructionsfor executing operations including receiving a plurality of image forthe same object, obtaining a screen division value related to theplurality of image, checking a focused section of the plurality of imagebased on the screen division value, and determining type of theplurality of image based on a result of checking the focused section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for conceptually describing an image photographingand reading method according to the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific method ofphotographing a multi-focus image through the photographing device 100and the reading device 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 and reading whether itis a realistic image based thereon.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for further describing a multi-focus image and aphotographing method thereof mentioned in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a diagram describing examples of screen classificationaccording to various screen division values with specific examples.

FIG. 5 is a diagram describing examples of setting a photographing orderaccording to various order values with specific examples.

FIG. 6 is a diagram describing an embodiment, in which an imagephotographing method according to the disclosure is applied in units ofpixels.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image photographing methodaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an image reading method according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment, in which thestep S240 of determining the type of the image of FIG. 8 is furtherspecified.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardwareconfiguration of a computing device 500, in which various embodiments ofthe disclosure are implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to the attached drawings. Advantages andfeatures of the present disclosure and methods of accomplishing the samemay be understood more readily by reference to the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Thepresent disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forthherein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosurewill be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of thedisclosure to those skilled in the art, and the present disclosure willonly be defined by the appended claims.

In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, itshould be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to thesame components as much as possible even though they are shown indifferent drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention,when it is determined that the detailed description of the relatedwell-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the presentinvention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the present specification(including technical and scientific terms) may be used in a sense thatcan be commonly understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, theterms defined in the commonly used dictionaries are not ideally orexcessively interpreted unless they are specifically defined clearly.The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Inthis specification, the singular also includes the plural unlessspecifically stated otherwise in the phrase.

In addition, in describing the component of this invention, terms, suchas first, second, A, B, (a), (b), can be used. These terms are only fordistinguishing the components from other components, and the nature ororder of the components is not limited by the terms. If a component isdescribed as being “connected,” “coupled” or “contacted” to anothercomponent, that component may be directly connected to or contacted withthat other component, but it should be understood that another componentalso may be “connected,” “coupled” or “contacted” between eachcomponent.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for conceptually describing an image photographingand reading method according to the disclosure.

In the system environment 1000 illustrated in FIG. 1 , the photographingdevice 100 (e.g., a user device) photographs the subjects 10 and 20using a built-in camera. The subject 10 and 20 to be photographed may bean object 10 that actually exists, or may be an existing photographedphoto or video screen 20. Hereinafter, a subject that is an actualexisting object will be referred to as a 3-dimensional subject, and asubject that is an existing photographed photo or video screen will bereferred to as a 2-dimensional subject.

At this time, in order to read whether the photographed image is a3-dimensional subject image or a 2-dimensional subject image, thephotographing device 100 photographs several images by varying focuspoints for the same subject. Several images photographed in this waywill be referred to as multi-focus images. A detailed description of themulti-focus image and its photographing method will be described laterin detail in or below FIG. 2 , and thus a detailed description thereofis omitted.

Then, the photographing device 100 transmits the multi-focus image tothe reading device 200 (e.g., a server) at a time of synchronizationwith the reading device 200 after storing the multi-focus image.

The reading device 200 analyzes the transmitted multi-focus image anddetermines/reads the type of the image whether the image is a3-dimensional subject image or a 2-dimensional subject image. Forexample, if the previously photographed subject is a 3-dimensionalsubject 10, an image, in which different portions are focused wheneverthe focus point varies, is photographed. For example, when the focuspoint is the background, an image, in which the background is clear butthe tree is blurred, is photographed, and when the focus point is thetree, an image, in which the tree is clear but the background isblurred, is photographed. On the other hand, if the previouslyphotographed subject is the 2-dimensional subject 20, an image without asignificant difference in the focused portion will be photographed evenif the focus point varies. That is, in the case of the 2-dimensionalsubject 20, regardless of whether the focus point is a background or atree, since the distance (or depth) from the photographing device 100 isthe same, an image, in which both the background and the tree have thesame sharpness (that is, similar to an existing photographed photo orvideo), will be photographed.

With this principle, the reading device 200 analyzes the multi-focusimage, and if its focused portions are different from each other, thereading device 200 reads the corresponding image as a 3-dimensionalsubject image photographing the 3-dimensional subject 10. Conversely,the reading device 200 analyzes the multi-focus image, and if thefocused portions thereof are the same or similar to each other, thereading device 200 reads the corresponding image as a 2-dimensionalsubject image photographing the 2-dimensional subject 20.

As an embodiment, in this case, the reading device 200 maydetermine/read the type of the multi-focus image by further referring tothe focused area or the focused order of the focused portions. This willbe described in more detail in or below FIG. 2 .

According to the method of the disclosure as described above, it ispossible to easily read whether re-photographing a previouslyphotographed photo or video screen and submitting a processed image bymanipulating, forging or altering it as if it is actually photographed.If the focused portions of the multi-focus image are the same or similarto each other, it can be known as photographing a 2-dimensional subject,indicating that the actual object was not photographed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific method ofphotographing a multi-focus image through the photographing device 100and the reading device 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 and reading whether itis a realistic image based thereon. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 , amethod of dividing a screen to classify an area to be multi-focused andphotographing and reading a multi-focus image by considering a focusorder of the classified area is described. It will be described belowwith reference to the drawing.

First, the photographing device 100 generates random number information120 according to a predetermined rule. As an embodiment, the randomnumber information 120 may be generated based on the time informationand the MAC address 110 of the photographing device 100.

In order to share the random number information 120 with the readingdevice 200, the photographing device 100 generates random numberinformation 120 using a predetermined random number generationalgorithm. In this case, the random number generation algorithm may bean algorithm that receives time information when generating randomnumber information 120 and the MAC address of the photographing device100 generating random number information 120 as an input factor so thatdifferent random number information is generated according to a time ofphotographing a multi-focus image and a photographing device. Randomnumber generation algorithms for generating random numbers based onspecific input factors have various types, and their technical contentsare also widely known in the art, and thus detailed descriptions thereofwill be omitted here.

The generated random number information 120 may include a screendivision value referenced to divide and classify a photographing screenwhen multi-focus photographing, and an order value that designates afocus order of each divided and classified screen area.

The photographing device 100 classifies the photographing screen into aplurality of areas according to the screen division value among therandom number information 120 (D1). For example, if the screen divisionvalue is 3, the photographing device 100 classifies the photographingscreen into three areas. Similarly, if the screen division value is 9,the photographing device 100 classifies the photographing screen intonine areas. Subsequently, when multi-focus photographing, thephotographing device 100 focuses the subject based on each of theclassified areas.

Next, the photographing device 100 selectively focuses the classifiedareas according to an order value among the random number information120 to continuously photograph the subject (D2). For example, assumingthat there are three areas classified by the screen division value, andan order value is assigned as a vector value of [3, 2, 1] to theclassified area, the subject is photographed by focusing on the thirdarea, to which the order value ‘1’ is assigned, first among theclassified areas and then, the same subject is repeatedly photographedby focusing on the second area, to which the order value ‘2’ isassigned, among the classified areas. Finally, the same subject isrepeatedly photographed by focusing on the third area, to which theorder value ‘3’ is assigned, among the classified areas. In this way,the same subject is repeatedly continuous photographed according to theorder value.

Further, the photographing device 100 stores a plurality of imagesgenerated through such multi-focus photographing as a multi-focus image130. In the above example, since three continuous photographing wouldhave occurred by varying the focus point according to the order value[3, 2, 1], the multi-focus image 130 will be composed of a total ofthree images.

Meanwhile, although it is exemplified that multi-focus photographing isperformed once for each classified area, the scope of the disclosure isnot limited thereto. For example, assuming that there are nine areasclassified by the screen division value, and an order value is assignedto the classified areas as a vector value of [3, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0,0], only three continuous photographing will occur by focusing on the7th area, the 4th area, and the first area sequentially. Multi-focusphotography is not performed in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9thareas, to which the order value ‘0’ is assigned. Accordingly, in thisexample, the photographing screen is divided and classified into nineareas, but only three images will be generated as the multi-focus image130.

Thereafter, the photographing device 100 communicates with the readingdevice 200 and transmits the stored multi-focus image 130 to the readingdevice 200. At this time, the photographing device 100 transmits thepreviously obtained time information and the MAC address 110 to thereading apparatus 200 together to generate random number information inthe reading device 200.

As an embodiment, in this case, the photographing devices 100 can packeach image according to the photographed order and transmit it to thereading device 200 so that the reading device 200 can check thephotographed order of each of the images included in the multi-focusimage.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the photographing device 100 cantransmit the multi-focus image together with information indicating thephotographed order of each image to the reading device 200 so that thereading device 200 can check the photographed order of each of theimages included in the multi-focus image.

The reading device 200 receives the transmitted multi-focus image 220and checks the time information and the MAC address 110 transmittedtogether with the multi-focus image 220. Then, based on the checked timeinformation and the MAC address 110, the random number information 210for reading the multi-focus image 220 is generated. In this case, thereading device 200 may generate the random number information 210 byinputting the checked time information and the MAC address 110 as inputfactors to the same random number generation algorithm previously usedby the photographing device 100. Since the same input factor is input tothe same random number generation algorithm, the resultant random numberinformation 210 will also output the same value as the random numberinformation 120 of the photographing device 100.

Further, the reading device 200 determines/reads the type of thetransmitted multi-focus image 220 by referring to the screen divisionvalue and the order value included in the random number information 210.

Specifically, the reading device 200 refers to the screen division valueamong the random number information 210 and checks whether the focusedarea of the multi-focus image matches it. If the screen division valueand the focused area of the multi-focus image do not match each other(for example, an area other than the area classified according to thescreen division value is focused, or two or more of the areas classifiedaccording to the screen division value are simultaneously focused),multi-focus photographing is not performed according to a predeterminedmethod, so the reading device 200 can determine/read the type of themulti-focus image 220 as a 2-dimensional subject image or a forged oraltered image.

Further, the reading device 200 refers to the order value of the randomnumber information 210 and checks whether the focused order of themulti-focus image matches it. If the order value and the focused orderof the multi-focus image do not match each other (for example, the ordervalue indicates to focus on the third area of the classified areasfirst, but in the actual multi-focus image, the first area is focusedfirst), this is also not multi-focus photography performed according toa predetermined method, so the reading device 200 can determine/read thetype of the multi-focus image 220 as a 2-dimensional subject image orforged or altered image.

On the other hand, if the focused area of the multi-focus image matchesthe screen division value and the order value of the random numberinformation 210, respectively, the reading device 200 can consider thatthe multi-focus photographing has been performed according to apredetermined method, and determine/read the type of the multi-focusimage 220 as a 3-dimensional subject image or a realistic image.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for specifically describing a multi-focus image anda photographing method thereof mentioned in FIG. 2 . In the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 3 , multi-focus photography when the screen divisionvalue is 3 and the order value is [2, 1, 3] is exemplary described.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a basic photographing screen 30 is shown first.This is, for example, a display screen of the photographing device 100and represents an initial photographing screen before startingmulti-focus photographing. The basic photographing screen 30 displaysthree trees as subjects.

Thereafter, the photographing device 100 obtains random numberinformation, and extracts a screen division value therefrom. The screendivision value at this time is illustrated as 3 (N=3). And, thephotographing device 100 classifies the basic photographing screen 30into a plurality of areas according to the screen division value. In themiddle part of FIG. 3 , the photographic screen 31, in which the entirescreen is divided and classified into a plurality of areas 31 a, 31 b,and 31 c, is shown.

Then, the photographing device 100 sets a focus order for each of theclassified areas 31 a, 31 b, and 31 c according to the order value ofthe random number information. In the center of FIG. 3 , a screen 32, inwhich focus orders 32 a, 32 b, and 32 c are set for each classifiedarea, is shown. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 , it is exemplified that thefocus order is set as ‘2’ for the first area, ‘1’ for the second area,and ‘3’ for the third area among a plurality of classified areas.

Further, the photographing device 100 performs continuous photographingaccording to the focus order 32 a, 32 b, and 32 c set for each of theclassified areas 31 a, 31 b, and 31 c. Specifically, the photographingdevice 110 firstly focuses on the second area, in which the focus orderis ‘1,’ and photographs three trees, which are subjects. In FIG. 3 , thenon-focused area is indicated by hatching to distinguish it from thefocused area. The result of performing the first multi-focus photographyin this way is generated as the first image. Then, the photographingdevice 110 repeatedly photographs three trees that are the same subject,by focusing on the first area, in which the focus order is ‘2.’ Asbefore, the second multi-focus photographing result is generated as asecond image. In addition, the photographing device 110 finally focuseson the third area, in which the focus order is ‘3’, and repeatedlyphotographs three trees that are the same subjects. Similarly, the thirdmulti-focus photographing result is generated as a third image.

When all multi-focus photographing according to the order value iscompleted, the photographing device 100 packs and stores the generatedimages (first to third images) as a multi-focus image.

FIG. 4 is a diagram describing examples of screen classificationaccording to various screen division values with specific examples. Itwill be described below with reference to the drawings.

(a) of FIG. 4 is a case where the screen division value is 3 (N=3), andas in the embodiment of FIG. 3 above, the entire photographing screen isclassified into three areas. Here, a case of vertically dividing theentire screen is illustrated, but the disclosure is not limited thereto,and horizontal division is also possible.

(b) of FIG. 4 is a case where the screen division value is 9 (N=9), andthe entire photographing screen is classified into nine areas. As themost basic method, as illustrated, the entire screen may be equallydivided into nine areas, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, it is also possible to divide some areas into relatively largerareas.

(c) of FIG. 4 is a case where the screen division value is 18 (N=18),and the entire photographing screen is classified into 18 areas. As in(b) of FIG. 4 , an example of equal division is illustrated here, but isnot limited thereto, and it is also possible to divide some areas intorelatively larger areas or smaller areas.

Meanwhile, FIG. 4 illustrates various cases of screen division as anexample, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that variousscreen division methods not described here (for example, when the screendivision value is 3000, or when the screen division area is a triangle,etc.) can be modified and applied.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating examples of setting a photographingorder according to various order values with specific examples. Theembodiment of FIG. 5 is described by exemplifying a case where thescreen division value is 9 (N=9) for the sake of clarity.

(a) of FIG. 5 illustrates a case, in which only one image is multi-focusphotographed. Since a single image is photographed, it is somewhatdifferent from the meaning of multi-focus, but for the sake of unity ofthe term, the term multi-focus is used in this case as well. Since oneimage is photographed, an order value of ‘1’ is set for only one area ofthe nine classified areas. Here, it is illustrated that the order value‘1’ is set in the second area. When multi-focus photographing starts,the photographing device 100 checks the classified areas according tothe screen division value, focuses the second area among them, andphotographs one image. As an embodiment, in this case, the total ordervalue extracted from the random number information 120 may be a vectorvalue such as [0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0].

(b) of FIG. 5 illustrates a case, in which two images are multi-focusphotographed. Since two images are photographed, order values of ‘1’ and‘2’ are set for two areas of the nine classified areas. Here, it isillustrated that the order value ‘1’ is set in the second area, and theorder value ‘2’ is set in the 6th area. When multi-focus photographingstarts, the photographing device 100 checks the classified areaaccording to the screen division value, first focuses on the second areato photograph one image, and then focuses on the 6th area to photographone image again. As an embodiment, in this case, the total order valueextracted from the random number information 120 may be a vector valuesuch as [0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0].

(c) of FIG. 5 is a case, in which nine images are multi-focusphotographed. In the case of photographing nine images, an order valueof ‘1’ to ‘9’ is set for each of the nine classified areas. Whenmulti-focus photographing starts, the photographing device 100 checksthe classified areas according to the screen division value, andsequentially focuses the nine areas according to the order values shownin (c) of FIG. 5 to continuously photograph nine images. As anembodiment, in this case, the total order value extracted from therandom number information 120 may be a vector value such as [5, 1, 7, 4,8, 2, 9, 3, 6].

As described above, if the photographing screen is classified into aplurality of areas and a multi-focus photographing order is designatedfor that, security from external hacking, malicious forgery oraltercation can be greatly improved.

For example, when the screen division value is 9 and three images aremulti-focus photographed, the number of multi-focus images that can begenerated therefrom is nine to the power of three. Therefore, even if anexternally maliciously manipulating and submitting a multi-focus image,the probability of matching the correct screen division value and ordervalue (i.e., the probability of reading it as a realistic image) is lowat 0.13%, and thus it is possible to filter out forged and alteredimages with a very high probability. Such security increases as thescreen division value and the number of images to be photographedincrease. For example, if the screen division value is 18 and the numberof images to be multi-focus photographed is five, the probability oferroneously reading the manipulated image as a realistic image isextremely low to 1/1,889,569, which is obtained by dividing one witheighteen to the power of five.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment, in which an imagephotographing method according to the disclosure is applied in units ofpixels.

When the above embodiments are to perform multi-focus photographing onareas separately classified according to the screen division value, theembodiment of FIG. 6 performs multi-focus photographing on pixels of thephotographing screen. Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , since itis sufficient to focus the subject on the basis of each pixel determinedby a hardware, a separate screen division value for screenclassification may not be required (because it can be seen that thephotographing screen is already classified by pixel).

In FIG. 6 , the photographing device 100 extracts an order value fromthe random number information 120 and sequentially focuses each pixelaccording to the extracted order value to multi-focus photographmultiple images for the same subject.

For example, as in the illustrated example, it is assumed that thenumber of pixels of the photographing screen is 7680×4320, and theextracted order value is [0, 0, . . . , 3, . . . , 0, 0, . . . , 2, . .. , 0, 0, . . . , 1, . . . , 0, 0]. At this time, the order value ‘3’matches the pixel of the coordinates (3000, 4000), the order value ‘2’matches the pixel of the coordinates (7000, 4000), and the order value‘1’ matches the pixel of the coordinates (50, 60), respectively.

The photographing device 100 photographs the first image by focusing onthe pixel of the coordinates (50, 60), in which the order value ‘1’ isset, and then, photographs the second image by focusing on the pixel ofthe coordinates (7000, 4000), in which the order value ‘2’ is set, andfinally photographs the third image by focusing on the pixel of thecoordinates (3000, 4000), in which the order value ‘3’ is set, byreferring to the extracted order value. The photographed images (firstto third images) are packed as a multi-focus image and transmitted tothe reading device 200.

The reading device 200 generates random number information 210 in thesame manner as in the previous embodiments, and extracts an order valuetherefrom. And, the reading device 200 verifies the multi-focus image asto whether each pixel is sequentially focused and photographed accordingto the extracted order value, and reads whether the multi-focus image isa 3-dimensional subject image (realistic image) or a 2-dimensionalsubject image (forged, altered, processed image) according to theresult.

FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate flowcharts of various embodiments according tothe disclosure. In order to avoid the complexity of the description, inthe following description, ‘each area classified according to the screendivision value’ will be briefly referred to as the term ‘section.’Further, in order to avoid overlapping descriptions, repeateddescriptions of the same contents as previously described will beomitted as much as possible.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image photographing methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The embodimentof FIG. 7 shows a method of photographing a multi-focus image performedby the photographing device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 . Accordingly,when the subject of performing each step is omitted in the embodiment ofFIG. 7 , it is assumed that the subject of performing the operation isthe photographing device 100.

In step S110, the photographing device 100 checks the time informationand the MAC address. In this case, the time information may be timeinformation of a clock embedded in the photographing device 100 or maybe time information obtained through a network connected to thephotographing device 100. The MAC address may be the MAC address of thephotographing device 100.

In step S120, the photographing device 100 obtains random numberinformation based on the checked time information and the MAC address.As an embodiment, the photographing device 100 may obtain the randomnumber information by inputting the time information and the MAC addressas input information to a predetermined random number generationalgorithm.

In this case, the obtained random number information may include ascreen division value and an order value for multi-focus photography.

In step S130, the photographing device 100 classifies the photographingscreen that illuminates the subject into a plurality of sections basedon the screen division value among random number information.

Thereafter, the photographing device 100 sets a focus order of aplurality of sections previously classified based on an order valueamong random number information, and continuously photographs eachsection by focusing on each section according to the set focus order.

In step S140, the photographing device 100 photographs a first image byfocusing a first section of a plurality of sections having a fasterfocus order.

In step S150, the photographing device 100 photographs a second image byfocusing a second section of the plurality of sections having a slowerfocus order.

In step S160, the photographing device 100 packs and stores thephotographed first image and second image as a multi-focus image. Atthis time, the time information and the MAC address referenced to obtainthe random number information may be packed together. Then, when thephotographing device 100 is connected to the reading device 200 througha network, the photographing device 100 transmits the previously storedmulti-focus image to the reading device 200.

Thereafter, the reading device 200 verifies whether each section isfocused on accordance with the screen division value and the order valuefor the transmitted multi-focus image, and determines/reads its type.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of FIG. 7 , a case of multi-focusphotographing of a plurality of sections is described, but the scope ofthe disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, it is possible togenerate only one image (first image) as a multi-focus image by focusingonly one section (first section) among a plurality of sections. In thiscase, the reading device 200 determines/reads the type of themulti-focus image by checking only whether the focused section of thefirst image is a photographing section designated by the order value.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an image reading method according toan embodiment of the disclosure. The embodiment of FIG. 8 shows a methodof reading a multi-focus image performed by the reading device 200 shownin FIG. 1 . Accordingly, in the embodiment of FIG. 8 , when the subjectof performing each step is omitted, it is assumed that the subject ofperforming the step is the reading device 200.

In step S210, the reading device 200 receives the multi-focus imagetransmitted from the photographing device 100.

In step S220, the reading device 200 checks the time information and MACaddress transmitted together from the photographing device 100.

In step S230, the reading device 200 obtains random number informationbased on the previously checked time information and MAC address. As anembodiment, the reading device 200 may obtain random number informationby inputting the checked time information and MAC address as inputinformation to the same random number generation algorithm as that ofthe photographing device 100. The obtained random number information mayinclude a screen division value and an order value used for multi-focusphotography.

In step S240, the reading device 200 verifies whether the focusedsections of the multi-focus image match the screen division value andthe order value by referring to the screen division value and the ordervalue of the random number information, and determines/reads the type ofthe multi-focus image as a 3-dimensional subject image (realistic image)or a 2-dimensional subject image (forged, altered, or processed image).

This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 9 . FIG. 9is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment, in which step S240of determining/reading the type of the image of FIG. 8 is furtherspecified. It will be described below with reference to the drawing.

In step S241, the reading device 200 checks a screen division value andan order value among random number information.

In step S242, the reading device 200 checks the focused section of eachimage included in the multi-focus image. For example, when the first tothird images are included in the multi-focal image, the reading device200 checks the focused section of the first image, the focused sectionof the second image, and the focused section of the third image,respectively.

In step S243, the reading device 200 checks whether the focused area ofeach image matches the screen division value. When the focused area ofeach image does not match the screen division value (for example, whentwo or more of the sections according to the screen division value aresimultaneously focused in one image, etc.), the present embodimentproceeds to step S246. Conversely, when the focused area of each imagematches the screen division value (for example, when the focused area ofeach image fits in the section according to the screen division value),the present embodiment proceeds to step S244.

In step S244, the reading device 200 checks whether the focused order ofeach section matches the order value. When the focused order of eachsection does not match the order value (for example, a case where thefirst section is actually focused first and photographed although theorder value of the first section is ‘3,’ etc.), the present embodimentproceeds to step S246. Conversely, when the focused order of eachsection matches the order value (for example, a case where it issequentially focused and photographed according to the order value setin each section), the present embodiment proceeds to step S245.

In step S245, since it is confirmed that the transmitted multi-focusimage has been multi-focus photographed according to the screen divisionvalue and the order value, the reading device 200 determines/reads thetype of the multi-focus image as a 3-dimensional subject image (orrealistic image).

On the other hand, in the case of proceeding from steps S243 and S244 tostep S246, since the transmitted multi-focus image is not multi-focusphotographed according to the screen division value and the order value,in step S246, the reading device 200 determines/reads the type ofmulti-focus image as a 2-dimensional subject image (or forged, altered,processed image).

Hereinafter, an exemplary computing device 500 that can implement anapparatus and a system, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 10 . For example,the photographing device 100 or the reading device 200 of FIG. 1 may beimplemented using the computing device 500 of FIG. 10 .

FIG. 10 is an example hardware diagram illustrating a computing device500.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the computing device 500 may include one or moreprocessors 510, a bus 550, a communication interface 570, a memory 530,which loads a computer program 591 executed by the processors 510, and astorage 590 for storing the computer program 591. However, FIG. 10illustrates only the components related to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Therefore, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that the present disclosure may further include other generalpurpose components in addition to the components shown in FIG. 10 .

The processor 510 controls overall operations of each component of thecomputing device 500. The processor 510 may be configured to include atleast one of a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Micro Processor Unit(MPU), a Micro Controller Unit (MCU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU),or any type of processor well known in the art. Further, the processor510 may perform calculations on at least one application or program forexecuting a method/operation according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The computing device 500 may have one or moreprocessors.

The memory 530 stores various data, instructions and/or information. Thememory 530 may load one or more programs 591 from the storage 590 toexecute methods/operations according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. An example of the memory 530 may be a RAM, but isnot limited thereto.

The bus 550 provides communication between components of the computingdevice 500. The bus 550 may be implemented as various types of bus suchas an address bus, a data bus and a control bus.

The communication interface 570 supports wired and wireless internetcommunication of the computing device 500. The communication interface570 may support various communication methods other than internetcommunication. To this end, the communication interface 570 may beconfigured to include a communication module well known in the art ofthe present disclosure.

The storage 590 can non-temporarily store one or more computer programs591. The storage 590 may be configured to include a non-volatile memory,such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM),an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a flash memory, ahard disk, a removable disk, or any type of computer readable recordingmedium well known in the art.

The computer program 591 may include one or more instructions, on whichthe methods/operations according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are implemented. For example, the computer program 591 mayinclude instructions for executing operations including obtaining ascreen division value for photographing an image, classifying aphotographing screen into a plurality of sections based on the screendivision value, photographing a first image by focusing a first sectionamong the plurality of sections, photographing a second image byfocusing a second section among the plurality of sections, andtransmitting the first image and the second image to a server. Foranother example, the computer program 591 may include instructions forexecuting operations including receiving a plurality of image for thesame object, obtaining a screen division value related to the pluralityof image, checking a focused section of the plurality of image based onthe screen division value, and determining type of the plurality ofimage based on a result of checking the focused section.

When the computer program 591 is loaded on the memory 530, the processor510 may perform the methods/operations in accordance with variousembodiments of the present disclosure by executing the one or moreinstructions.

The technical features of the present disclosure described so far may beembodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable medium. Thecomputer readable medium may be, for example, a removable recordingmedium (CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, USB storage device, removable hard disk)or a fixed recording medium (ROM, RAM, computer equipped hard disk). Thecomputer program recorded on the computer readable medium may betransmitted to other computing device via a network such as internet andinstalled in the other computing device, thereby being used in the othercomputing device.

Although the operations are shown in a specific order in the drawings,those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations andmodifications can be made to the preferred embodiments withoutsubstantially departing from the principles of the present invention.Therefore, the disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention are usedin a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. The scope of protection of the present invention should beinterpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within thescope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in thescope of the technical idea defined by the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for reading an image comprising: aprocessor; a memory for loading a computer program executed by theprocessor; and a storage for storing the computer program, wherein thecomputer program includes instructions for executing operationscomprising: receiving a plurality of images for a same subject from aphotographing device; obtaining a screen division value related to theplurality of images; checking focused sections of the plurality ofimages based on the obtained screen division value; and determining typeof the plurality of images based on a result of checking the focusedsections, wherein the plurality of images are generated by thephotographing device classifying a photographing screen of the samesubject into a plurality of sections based on the screen division value,and sequentially photographing according to an order value matching theplurality of sections, and wherein the screen division value or theorder value varies depending on time information and MAC addressinformation of the photographing device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the obtaining of the screen division value comprises: obtainingthe time information and the MAC address information of thephotographing device; and generating the screen division value from theobtained time information and the obtained MAC address information usinga random number generation algorithm shared with the photographingdevice.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the checking of the focusedsections of the plurality of images comprises: obtaining the order valuematching the plurality of sections; and checking the focused sections ofthe plurality of images by further referring to the obtained ordervalue.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining of the typeof the plurality of images comprises: determining the types of theplurality of images as a 2-dimensional subject image based on adetermination that the focused sections do not match the plurality ofsections for the photographing screen.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the determining of the type of the plurality of imagescomprises: obtaining the order value matching the plurality of sections;and determining the types of the plurality of images as a 2-dimensionalsubject image based on a determination that a focus order of the focusedsections does not match the obtained order value.
 6. A method forreading an image performed by a computer device, the method comprising:receiving a plurality of images for a same subject from a photographingdevice; obtaining a screen division value related to the plurality ofimages; checking focused sections of the plurality of images based onthe obtained screen division value; and determining type of theplurality of images based on a result of checking the focused sections,wherein the plurality of images are generated by the photographingdevice classifying a photographing screen of the same subject into aplurality of sections based on the screen division value, andsequentially photographing according to an order value matching theplurality of sections, and wherein the screen division value or theorder value varies depending on time information and MAC addressinformation of the photographing device.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the obtaining of the screen division value comprises: obtainingthe time information and the MAC address information of thephotographing device; and generating the screen division value from theobtained time information and the obtained MAC address information usinga random number generation algorithm shared with the photographingdevice.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the checking the focusedsections of the plurality of images comprises: obtaining the order valuematching the plurality of sections; and checking the focused sections ofthe plurality of images by further referring to the obtained ordervalue.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining the type of theplurality of images comprises: determining the types of the plurality ofimages as a 2-dimensional subject image based on a determination thatthe focused sections do not match the plurality of sections for thephotographing screen.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the determiningthe type of the plurality of images comprises: obtaining the order valuematching the plurality of sections; and determining the types of theplurality of images as a 2-dimensional subject image based on adetermination that a focus order of the focused sections does not matchthe obtained order value.